New Music!!

So, I love He is We so much. They're original and different and so great. If you haven't heard of them yet, you just have to listen to one song, and I swear you'll be hooked. I love them! Here is one of their newer songs from their recently released EP album, Skip to the Good Part.
So, take a listen. Leave a comment, telling me what you think, or recommend a new artist for me to check out.

Harry Potter

I saw the last movie of Harry Potter on July 15th, but I've been thinking more and more about it. There are so many things I want to know about what happens after the end. I'd love if J.K. Rowling continued with a series about any of the children (especially Lupin's son) or went back and did a novel on Snape and Lily's romance.

By the way, I don't think either of the things I mentioned above spoil anything. If you haven't seen the movies or read the books, don't look at my pictures though, cause they have spoilers.

Here are two collage-sort things I made for two of my favorite couples ever.

How can you not love these couples? They're adorable and so romantic. Seriously, I think they completed the series in such a great way. I don't care what people say, they're my favorite until the end of time.

So, there is my little flashback for the day, my love for Harry Potter. I think I'm going to go and reread the series now. Adios!

Sisterhood Everlasting

Once upon a time, I fell head over heels in love with a series of books called The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I even went so far as to get two of my old friends and we decorated this awesome t-shirt, but we never really got around to sending it and such. What a shame.

Anyway, when I discovered that the sisterhood was making a return, I dug my Kindle out of my dresser drawer and bought it right away. Here, for you to indulge on, is my review of the fifth and final book of the sisterhood's story.

Title: Sisterhood Everlasting

Author: Ann Brashares

Summary: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.
Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.
Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

Stars: 4.5

Rate: 9

Pros: Well, for starters, it was so interesting to see where all of the girls wound up. I loved how the story twisted and turned in so many different ways. Some of the things that happened were no-brainers, but others left my jaw hanging. It was a really emotional story that had so much background and character in it.

Cons: There were parts that dragged on, but not to the point of severe annoyance. While I did like the overall story and idea, some parts of the book (like what happens in Greece, for instance) made me frustrated and agitated. This book had a happy ending, but certainly not a happy beginning.

Overall Recommendation: This book was really great. If you have these little picture-perfect views, though, about how the girls should be and how they should've wound up, stop right now. If you can't set aside all those images that blossomed in your mind, then the book will feel like the crappiest thing on Earth to you, because it won't be what you wanted.

Once you set aside your own hopes for the girls, you'll really be able to dive into this book and love every page of it.

For fans of:

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

First things first, I saw I have a few more followers . . . welcome! It's nice to know that people look at this every now and again.

Onto the book review . . . The other day I went into the bookstore and decided to spend $30 on four books (Two of them were combined into one) I read Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, one of the books I bought.
So, here is that promised review. I'm changing up the format of my reviews a little, so no need for alarm ;)

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Summary: Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew—just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn’t seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she’s coming to terms with her father’s death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

Stars: 5

Rate: 9.5

Pros: This book was exciting and adorable, all packed into one road trip. I loved Amy's perspective on things. I also loved how the author held off on saying what exactly happened in the car accident that scarred Amy.

The end was great, too. The writing part was fabulous, but the receipt at the end of the book told so much, too. Throughout the novel, the playlists, pictures and doodles really added to the story. They weren't flashy or over used; just enough to really pull you into the story.

Cons: Well, first of all, it was hard to let this book end for me. I wanted it to keep going and going, but alas, that happens with all great books. While I favored the way the author held off on the specific details of the crash, a friend of mine told me how she thought it could be somewhat annoying.

I guess it depends on what kind of reader you are and just how patient you can be.

Overall recommendation: I loved this book. I told another friend to put it at the top of her list. It's cute with serious concepts woven into the story. Great read!

For fans of . . .

The Last Little Blue Envelope

"This car is like a bank vault. No one can get in."
"I once opened the door with a pen. Just a little flick of the Biro and . . . pop! Door open."

Those of you who have been following along with me know that I was waiting for my copy of 'The Last Little Blue Envelope' to be delivered. Well, it came in the mail and I read it in two days. That quote up there is one of my many humorous ones from the book, and if I could find the book (I passed out last night when I finished it; it was nearly two in the morning) I would quote more.
On with the review, though.

Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

Characters: Once again, Ginny is the perfect narrator. She has a quirky, nervous feel to her that makes you want to be her friend and support her, simply because you know she has such potential and confidence that's hidden underneath. In this book, Ginny returns to London and surprises Keith, the actor from her last trip. This time around, I found Keith to be a little more rude than I would've liked, but he was such a realistic character. Ginny meets Oliver, who I just couldn't help but picturing as some kind of Batman, with his "dashing" appearance.

Plot/storyline: There was the romance between Keith and Ginny, but not in the way you'd expect. Keith's girlfriend Ellis comes along with Ginny, Keith and Oliver on their trip to fill the last letter's orders. I loved how Ginny's view on people and things changed through this story, because in the end, that was really important. It was a great story, much like the first book.

Overall: I loved this book. It made me laugh so hard I just had to repeat the lines aloud. It made me cry and mutter under my breath. It made me smile and just sit there for a few minutes after it ended.

Go buy it, if you haven't yet! This book is definitely one of my favorites! By the way, do you guys like the music and the little guy who stalks you on the side? ;)

How Do I End My Novel?

Have you ever had trouble ending your novel, or even a short story? You're not the only one.
I don't know why, but I just cant seem to write an ending I am happy with. Every time I try to write the last chapters, it comes out stiff and I end up deleting it.

I've only written one full novel, but I do have the ending for another one planned. If it's a stand-alone book, my advice is to tie up all loose ends. Make sure all the questions (or most of them) have been answered. You don't want the ending to just be random fluff. Make it meaningful. If you feel that you can't get to the actual end without doing some explaining of other things first, then make two-three chapters, ending all of that. Don't spend too much time on one topic unless it was a big part in the novel. If you think that most of your topics could be explained and ended within a paragraph, it may be a good idea to have an epilogue. That's what I did for my one novel, Behind These Amber Eyes. (It's fully posted on inkpop if you want to take a look at the last chapter) Remember to add emotion. Like, if you're explaining how the main character was no longer close with an old friend, put something like, "Even though I knew we had our differences and just couldn't pretend anymore, I still missed all the parties and times we had. It was like a pinch in my heart when I saw how far apart we had drifted."

If you have a series going on, then you could always end it with a cliffhanger. It doesn't even have to be something like, "I screamed as a hand pulled me down. Then it went black." Just something like, "The past was for certain, but the future was unsure. So much could happen in the blink of an eye. Closing my eyes and feeling the warm air around me, I reminded myself to live in the present because you never know what tomorrow may bring." That gives a sense of suspense and mystery, but still ends things.

In closing, you want to make things short, but make sure to explain them. Leave a tiny bit of mystery if you can, just to let the reader imagine things on their own. If it's a series, then it's all right to let some questions unanswered. It'll bring the readers back for sure.